Tail gate and fastener therefor



Oct. 28, 1947. l' H.,G. coNNER 2,429,805-,

TAIL GATE AND FASTENER THEREFOR Filed May 21, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 1 l i `WMMW oct. 2s, 1947. H. c. CQNN'R 2,429,805

v TAIL GATE AND FASTENER THEREFOR I Filed May 21, 1945 A 2 shams-'sheer 2 1.

Inventor 'By @06%, adlmwf/amgm Patented Oct. 28, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in tail gates for automotive trucks, and the like, and to fasteners for such gates.

The principal object of the invention is to equip automotive trucks, or similar vehicles, used for transporting livestock, with a tail gate unit of simple form and inexpensive construction which is proof against being accidentally opened and against freezing shut, and which is easy to fasten and unfasten particularly when pressure is being exerted against the same from the inner side of the gate.

Another object is to provide a gate and a fastener for the purpose above set forth which is strong, involves few parts, and will not readily get out of order.

Other and subordinate objects, also comprehended by my invention, together with the precise nature of my improvements and the manifold adu vantages thereof, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claim are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in rear elevation of my improved tail gate and fastener in a preferred embodiment thereof,

Figure 2 is a view in plan with the gate shown open in broken lines,

Figure 3 is a View in longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a view in longitudinal section taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 3, and illustrating the fastener unfastened and the gate partly opened.

Reference being had to the drawings by numerals, according to my invention, as shown, a frame I is provided for attachment in any suitable manner to the tail end of a truck body 2, a gate 3 for closing said frame, and fastener means 4' for said gate.

The frame I comprises a pair of top and bottom bars 4, 5 and a pair of side bars 6, 1 overlying the ends 0f said bars 4, 5 on the rear side thereof and suitably Xed thereto.

The gate 3 comprises top, bottom and an intermediate bar `8, 9, I0, respectively, with side bars II, I2, and fitted within the confines of the frame I. The gate 3 is suitably hinged to the frame side bar E, as at I3, to open outwardly of the frame l and body 2.

The fastener 4' comprises an elongated, staplelike keeper I4 having a base plate I5 secured by screws I6 to the frame side bar 1 with the keeper I4 in upright position, a fastener lever I1 for cooperation with the keeper I4 to maintain the gate 3 closed, and a gravity latch I8 for the fastener lever I1, also an attaching plate I9 for said lever I1. The fastener lever I1 comprises a forked outer end 20 adapted to t in the keeper I4 with out-turned terminals 2| hooking under said keeper, .a bifurcated inner end 22, and a, cross bridge piece 23 connecting the tines of the forked end 20 inwardly of the terminals 2 I. The gravity latch I8 has the form of a handle bar provided with a flattened inner end 24 pivoted, as at 25, in said bifurcated end 22 to swing vertically thereon, in the plane thereof, into either alignment with said lever I1 or to depend therefrom in right angular relation thereto. In the depending position of said gravity latch I8, the flattened end 24 extends above the fastener lever I1. The attaching plate I9 is provided with a vertical front end barrel 26 tting in the forked end 20 of the fastener lever I1 with the bridge piece 23 rotatable therein. At the rear end thereof, said plate I'9 is provided with a pair of upper and lower, oppositely opening, staple-like latch keepers 21, 28 between which the bifurcated end 22 of the fastener lever I1 is adapted to swing when said lever I1 is in fastening position, and into which the gravity latch I8 is adapted to fit when said gravity latch is swung into the described depending position. Screws 29 secure said plate I9 to the rear side of the gate 3 with the fastener lever I1 swingable in the barrel 26 horizontally. A suitable aperture 30 is provided in the lower keeper 28 for the insertion of the shackle of a padlock, not shown, therethrough to block swinging of the gravity latch out of the keepers 21, 28.

Referring now to the use and operation of the invention. With the gate 3 suitably closed, part Way, as shown in Figure 4, and the gravity latch I8 swung on the fastener lever I1 into alignment therewith, said lever I1 is swung, by the gravity latch I8 as a handle, to insert the terminals 2I of the forked end 20 in the keeper I4, as shown in said Figure 4. The fastener lever I1 is then swung, by means of said gravity latch I8, toward the gate 3 to interpose the bifurcated end 22 thereof between the upper and lower keepers 21, 28, as shown for instance in Figure 3. During such swinging of the fastener lever I1, the ter- 4minals 2| fulcrum against the keeper I4 to apply leverage to the gate 3 and fully close the same. The gravity latch I8 is next swung downwardly on the pivot 25 into right angular depending relation to said lever I1, in which position said gravity latch is swung into said keepers 21, 28 and the fastener and gate latched. When the gravity latch I8 is unlatched, in a manner which will be clear, the fastener lever I'l may be swung counter-clockwise, as viewed in Figure 4, to withdraw the terminals 2| from the keeper I4 so that the gate 3 may be fully opened. In this operation, said terminals 2| fulorum against the base plate I5 and serve to pry the gate 3 part way open. The advantage of this will be apparent, particularly in connection with stuck or frozen gates.

The foregoing will, it is believed, suffice to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modioation without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modications as fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A tail gate structure for a truck body comprising a frame adapted to be fixed to said body, a. gate for closing said frame hinged at one side to one side of the frame, a staple-like keeper fixed to said frame at the other side thereof, a fastener lever having a forked end with hooked terminals for insertion in said keeper, means to swingably REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 144,429 Baird et al Nov. 11, 1873 369,894 Tiohenor et al Sept. 13, 1887 490,333 Anderson Jan. 24, 1893 812,107 Wirfs Feb. 6, 1906 1,355,253 Ostul Oct, 12, 1920 1,716,343 Langren June 4, 1929 

